Retrofitted bidet assembly

ABSTRACT

A retrofitted bidet assembly for retrofitting a bidet onto an existing toilet includes a toilet that has a fluid supply line fluidly coupled to a fluid source for flushing the toilet. A fitting is fluidly coupled to the fluid supply line and the fitting has an outlet is fluidly coupled thereto to direct fluid from the fluid source outwardly therefrom. An outlet hose is fluidly coupled to the outlet on the fitting and a spray handle is fluidly coupled to the outlet hose such that the spray handle is in fluid communication with the fluid source. The spray handle has a plurality of spray apertures therein to spray the fluid outwardly therefrom for washing a user of the toilet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Statement Regarding Federally Sponsored Research or Development

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to bidet devices and more particularly pertains to a new bidet device for retrofitting a bidet onto an existing toilet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a toilet that has a fluid supply line fluidly coupled to a fluid source for flushing the toilet. A fitting is fluidly coupled to the fluid supply line and the fitting has an outlet is fluidly coupled thereto to direct fluid from the fluid source outwardly therefrom. An outlet hose is fluidly coupled to the outlet on the fitting and a spray handle is fluidly coupled to the outlet hose such that the spray handle is in fluid communication with the fluid source. The spray handle has a plurality of spray apertures therein to spray the fluid outwardly therefrom for washing a user of the toilet.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a retrofitted bidet assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a detail view taken from circle 2 of FIG. 1 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new bidet device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the retrofitted bidet assembly 10 generally comprises a toilet 12 that has a fluid supply line 14. The fluid supply line 14 is fluidly coupled to a fluid source 16 for flushing the toilet 12. The toilet 12 may be a plumbing fixture in a bathroom or the like and the fluid source 16 may be a water line in a house or the like. A fitting 18 is provided and the fitting 18 is fluidly coupled to the fluid supply line 14. The fitting 18 has an outlet 20 that is fluidly coupled thereto to direct fluid from the fluid source 16 outwardly therefrom.

The fitting 18 has an input 22 and an output 24, and the fitting 18 is retrofitted into the fluid supply line 14 having the fluid supply line 14 being fluidly coupled to each of the input 22 and the output 24. In this way the fitting 18 directs the fluid into the toilet 12 for flushing. Moreover, the outlet 20 on the fitting 18 is positioned between the input 22 and the output 24. The fitting 18 may be a T-fitting commonly used in plumbing or other type of three way fluid fitting.

An outlet hose 26 is fluidly coupled to the outlet 20 on the fitting 18 such that the outlet hose 26 is in fluid communication with the fluid source 16. The outlet hose 26 has a distal end 28 with respect to the fitting 18. A spray handle 30 is fluidly coupled to the outlet hose 26 such that the spray handle 30 is in fluid communication with the fluid source 16. The spray handle 30 has a plurality of spray apertures 32 therein for spraying the fluid outwardly therefrom for washing a user of the toilet 12. The spray handle 30 has an input port 34 and the input port 34 is fluidly coupled to the distal end 28 of the outlet hose 26. Moreover, each of the spray apertures 32 is in fluid communication with the input port 34. The spray handle 30 may be a shower handle of any conventional design having the spray apertures 32 directing the fluid at a right angle with respect to the outlet hose 26. A plurality of couplers 35, such as hose clamps or the like, are each positioned on the fitting 18 to couple the fluid supply line 14 and the outlet hose 26 to the fitting 18.

A valve 36 is fluidly coupled to the spray handle 30 and the valve 36 is manipulated by the user. The valve 36 turns the spray handle 30 on and off to restrict and facilitate the fluid to flow through the spray handle 30. The valve 36 may be a fluid valve 36 of any conventional design commonly found on shower handles or the like. A box 38 is positioned adjacent to the toilet 12 and the spray handle 30 is positionable in the box 38 for storage. The box 38 has a bottom wall 40 and a perimeter wall 42 extending upwardly therefrom, and the perimeter wall 42 has a front side 44 and a distal edge 46 with respect to the bottom wall 40 defining an opening 48 into the box 38. The front side 44 has a slot 50 extending downwardly from the distal edge 46 toward the bottom wall 40 and the slot 50 accommodates the outlet hose 26 when the spray handle 30 is stored in the box 38.

In use, the fluid supply line 14 is cut to define a first half 52 of the fluid supply line 14 and a second half 54 of the fluid supply line 14. Each of the first 52 and second 54 halves of the fluid supply line 14 is fluidly coupled to a respective one of the input 22 and the output 24 on the fitting 18. Thus, the fluid from the fluid source 16 flows through the fitting 18 for flushing the toilet 12. The outlet hose 26 is fluidly coupled to the outlet 20 on the fitting 18 thereby directing the fluid into the spray handle 30. The valve 36 is manipulated on the spray handle 30 thereby facilitating the fluid to spray outwardly through the apertures 32 in the spray handle 30. In this way the spray handle 30 can function in the manner of a bidet thereby enhancing cleanliness and hygiene after defecation.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

1. A retrofitted bidet assembly for attaching to an existing toilet wherein said assembly is configured to enhance hygiene for a user of said toilet, said assembly comprising: a toilet having a fluid supply line being configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid source for flushing said toilet; a fitting being fluidly coupled to said fluid supply line, said fitting having an outlet being fluidly coupled thereto wherein said outlet is configured to direct fluid from the fluid source outwardly therefrom; an outlet hose being fluidly coupled to said outlet on said fitting wherein said outlet hose is configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid source; a spray handle being fluidly coupled to said outlet hose wherein said spray handle is configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid source, said spray handle having a plurality of spray apertures therein wherein each of said spray apertures is configured to spray the fluid outwardly therefrom for washing a user of said toilet; a box being positioned adjacent to said toilet in a position vertically spaced lower than said outlet of said fitting, said spray handle being positionable in said box for storage, said box having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending upwardly therefrom, said perimeter wall having a front side and a distal edge with respect to said bottom wall defining an opening into said box; and said front side having a slot extending downwardly from said distal edge toward said bottom wall, said slot accommodating said outlet hose such that said spray handle is fully positionable within said box between said bottom wall and said distal edge when said spray handle is stored in said box.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said fitting has an input and an output, said fluid supply line being fluidly coupled to each of said input and said output wherein said fitting is configured to direct the fluid into said toilet for flushing, said outlet being positioned between said input and said output.
 3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein: said outlet hose has a distal end with respect to said fitting; and said spray handle has an input port, said input port being fluidly coupled to said distal end of said outlet hose, each of said spray apertures being in fluid communication with said input port.
 4. The assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a valve being fluidly coupled to said spray handle wherein said valve is configured to be manipulated by the user, said valve turning said spray handle on and off wherein said valve is configured to restrict and facilitate the fluid to flow through said spray handle.
 5. (canceled)
 6. A retrofitted bidet assembly for attaching to an existing toilet wherein said assembly is configured to enhance hygiene for a user of said toilet, said assembly comprising: a toilet having a fluid supply line being configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid source for flushing said toilet; a fitting being fluidly coupled to said fluid supply line, said fitting having an outlet being fluidly coupled thereto wherein said outlet is configured to direct fluid from the fluid source outwardly therefrom, said fitting having an input and an output, said fluid supply line being fluidly coupled to each of said input and said output wherein said fitting is configured to direct the fluid into said toilet for flushing, said outlet being positioned between said input and said output; an outlet hose being fluidly coupled to said outlet on said fitting wherein said outlet hose is configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid source, said outlet hose having a distal end with respect to said fitting; a spray handle being fluidly coupled to said outlet hose wherein said spray handle is configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid source, said spray handle having a plurality of spray apertures therein wherein each of said spray apertures is configured to spray the fluid outwardly therefrom for washing a user of said toilet, said spray handle having an input port, said input port being fluidly coupled to said distal end of said outlet hose, each of said spray apertures being in fluid communication with said input port; a valve being fluidly coupled to said spray handle wherein said valve is configured to be manipulated by the user, said valve turning said spray handle on and off wherein said valve is configured to restrict and facilitate the fluid to flow through said spray handle; and a box being positioned adjacent to said toilet in a position vertically spaced lower than said outlet of said fitting, said spray handle being positionable in said box for storage, said box having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending upwardly therefrom, said perimeter wall having a front side and a distal edge with respect to said bottom wall defining an opening into said box, said front side having a slot extending downwardly from said distal edge toward said bottom wall, said slot accommodating said outlet hose such that said spray handle is fully positionable within said box between said bottom wall and said distal edge when said spray handle is stored in said box. 